Safety

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Camping and hiking safety

• Always bring a first aid kit when camping. Know how to use it.
• Use the buddy-system. Never camp or hike alone. If you were to break a leg or fall and get stuck, a partner could go for help.
• Make sure someone knows where you plan to camp or hike.
• Be careful when exploring. Take a compass and map. Remember landmarks.
• Take whistles in case you get lost or run into trouble. Whistles can be heard further than your voice will carry.
• Be careful when chopping wood or building fires.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid bites from ticks and other insects. In cold conditions, wear many layers of thin clothing, along with a hat, boots and gloves.
• Take a supply of clean drinking water and drink it. People can become dehydrated very quickly in warm, dry, or windy conditions. Dehydration can lead to other serious complications.
• Don't drink stream or lake water.
• Avoid drinking alcohol. It tends to cause dehydration.
• Don't provoke, touch, or get close to wild animals.
• Don't eat wild berries and plants.
• Don't over-exert yourself when hiking.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Before leaving a campsite to return home, make sure all fires are out and the ashes are cold. A single burning ember in a seemingly smothered fire is enough to initiate a full-blown fire.